Refocus Media Labs
ReFOCUS Media Labs is a Warsaw-based non-profit foundation operating four media labs across Europe (Lesvos, Athens, Krakow, Berlin) that provide free photography, filmmaking, podcasting, and journalism training to refugees and asylum seekers, funded by grants and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersWarszawa, Poland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Refocus Media Labs does
ReFOCUS Media Labs is a non-profit foundation (Fundacja ReFOCUS Media Labs) registered in Warsaw, Poland (KRS 0000772575) that operates a network of four physical media labs providing free media skills training to refugees and asylum seekers. Founded in 2017 by Sonia Nandzik-Herman and Douglas Herman following humanitarian work on the Serbian-Hungarian border, the organization targets displaced populations — including teenagers and young adults in refugee camps, displaced media professionals, and Afghan women — offering semester-based programs in photography, filmmaking, graphic design, audio/video production, podcasting, and journalism. The labs are located in Lesvos, Greece (the 2017 pilot location); Athens, Greece (opened 2022); Krakow, Poland (opened 2022 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine); and Berlin, Germany (opened 2024).
The organization's core products include the Media Skills Training Program, the Fractured podcast (an original citizen journalism platform with five seasons covering refugee crises and human rights), feature-length and short film productions screened at international festivals, the annual Art Under Pressure traveling arts festival, the Voices of Afghan Women online training initiative, and a Citizen Journalism Program that has placed student content with Al Jazeera, CNN, and BBC. The underlying technology is built around physical media labs equipped with photo studios, cinematography tools, video editing suites, pro audio equipment, and podcasting studios, with content distributed through standard digital platforms (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Facebook) and international film festival circuits. To date, the organization has produced 11 original films and certified over 600 students from 34 nationalities.
The business model is entirely donation- and grant-based, with no fees charged to participants. Revenue streams include individual donations via Patreon and direct website contributions, plus institutional grants and project sponsorships from foundations including The Wirth Foundation, Allianz Foundation, Choose Love, and Canon Young People Programme. The organization transitioned from an all-volunteer operation to one that now provides living wages for program graduates. All programs, equipment access, and mentorship are provided free of charge to refugee and asylum-seeker participants, positioning the organization as a pure charitable entity rather than a commercial enterprise.
Refocus Media Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Refocus Media Labs
- Legal name
- Fundacja ReFOCUS Media Labs
- Website
- https://refocusmedialabs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ReFOCUS Media Labs is a Warsaw-based non-profit foundation operating four media labs across Europe (Lesvos, Athens, Krakow, Berlin) that provide free photography, filmmaking, podcasting, and journalism training to refugees and asylum seekers, funded by grants and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Refocus Media Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Media Training and Education Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs) (EDAGALAM), Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI), Media Center & Audiovisual Lending Operations (Equipment Checkout, Production Support) (EDAEAGAG)
Keywords
Where Refocus Media Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Warszawa
- HQ country
- Poland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Refocus Media Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies primarily on donations from individuals, charitable foundations, and supporters. They operate a Patreon page and accept direct donations through their website. The organization is registered as Fundacja ReFOCUS Media Labs in Warsaw.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from institutional partners including The Wirth Foundation, Allianz Foundation, Choose Love, and Canon Young People Programme who sponsor specific programs and labs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free educational programs for refugees and asylum seekers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Refocus Media Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ReFOCUS Media Labs operates a network of physical media labs in refugee camps and host communities (Lesvos, Athens, Krakow, Berlin) that provide free, semester-based training in photography, filmmaking, graphic design, audio/video production, podcasting, and journalism to refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced media professionals. The organization supplements training with original content production including the Fractured podcast, feature documentaries, and the Art Under Pressure traveling festival, building portfolios and career pathways for participants.
Product overview
Refocus Media Labs is a non-profit media training foundation operating a global network of media labs that equip asylum seekers and refugees with modern media creation skills. The organization offers a portfolio of programs including: a core Media Skills Training Program that provides semester-based courses in photography, filmmaking, graphic design, audio/video production, and podcasting; the Fractured Podcast (an original citizen journalism podcast covering refugee and migration issues); Film Productions including feature documentaries and narrative films screened at international festivals; the Art Under Pressure annual arts festival showcasing community work internationally; the Voices of Afghan Women online training initiative; and a Citizen Journalism Program that trains students to report for major international media networks. The organization operates physical labs in Lesvos, Athens, Krakow, and Berlin, with partners including Canon Young People Programme, Film Arche, and Choose Love.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fractured: Original podcast of ReFOCUS Media Labs Citizen Journalism program, covering political and social challenges related to refugees and migration flows with focus on Europe.
- Voices of Afghan Women
- Art Under Pressure
- Stories That Matter
Products and services
- Media Skills Training Program Semester-based media skills training covering photography, filmmaking, graphic design, audio/video production, podcasting, and editing, delivered free to refugees and asylum seekers across four European media labs.
- Fractured Podcast Original podcast of ReFOCUS Media Labs' Citizen Journalism program covering political and social challenges related to the refugee crisis, human rights abuses, and migration flows with a focus on Europe. Distributed on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
- Film Productions Original feature documentaries and narrative films produced by the ReFOCUS community in collaboration with international filmmakers, including 'Even After Death', 'And Here We Are', 'Along The Way', and 'Trapped in the Playground'. Screened at international film festivals.
- Art Under Pressure Festival Annual international arts festival showcasing photography, graphic design, music videos, and films by the ReFOCUS community. Hosted in cities including Athens, Lucerne, Valencia, Berlin, London, New York, and Philadelphia.
- Voices of Afghan Women Online media training program providing Afghan women with video/sound production, editing, photography, storytelling, and graphic design skills. Targets training of 50 women to gain independence, income, and confidence.
- Citizen Journalism Program Training program that empowers students to report on their own communities, document conditions in refugee camps, and produce news content for international media networks including Al Jazeera, CNN, and BBC.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 600 certified students have developed media skills and gone on to create films, pursue higher education, and develop careers as media professionals
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Refocus Media Labs
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Refocus Media Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Refocus Media Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Canon Young People ProgrammecorePartnership with Canon to bring photography, filmmaking, audio, journalism, graphic design and podcast workshops to the Berlin community. Canon provides equipment and programmatic support for training 'New Berliners' in media skills.
- Atelier Gardens / Berlin Union Film Atelier (BUFA)coreHost venue for ReFOCUSxBerlin media lab, utilizing the historic BUFA film studio facilities. Provides physical space for workshops and training sessions.
- Kultura FuturacoreLocal partner in Krakow collaborating on media training programs for Ukrainian refugees and displaced artists.
- Europe_Cares / Parea Community CentercoreCoordination of daily media skills classes and workshops at Lesvos through the Parea Community Center, continuing the legacy of One Happy Family.
- Minority Rights Group InternationalcoreCo-production partner on 'Even After Death' feature documentary about refugee identification and human rights.
- FORENSIC ARCHITECTUREcoreCollaboration on investigative reconstruction of the Moria fires for 'Left to Burn' report, used in legal defense for #Moria6.
- Movies That Matter FestivalcoreOngoing partnership for Stories That Matter film series, providing premiere venues and industry connections for ReFOCUS filmmakers.
- Buddy Film FoundationcoreFive-year collaboration on Stories That Matter project, connecting ReFOCUS creators with Dutch film professionals and festival opportunities.
- von Hier an WeiterminorBerlin-based partner assisting with event hosting and community outreach for Art Under Pressure exhibitions.
- Małopolski Ogród SztukiminorKrakow venue partner for media training and exhibition space.
- Juliusz Slowacki TheaterminorKrakow cultural institution partner for artistic programming and community events.
- Film ArcheminorBerlin film organization partner contributing to media programming.
- National GeographicmajorFeature coverage of ReFOCUS programs and Afghan women's education initiatives, providing global visibility for the organization's work.
- ARTEmajorEuropean broadcaster that aired 'And Here We Are' documentary by Katja Riemann, providing major exposure for ReFOCUS story.
- International Media Networks (BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera)majorMajor media networks that have worked with ReFOCUS students on reporting and news content from refugee camps.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Refocus Media Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major humanitarian organization operating in crisis zones with programming that includes education, livelihoods, and media for refugees. Much larger scale and broader mandate, but overlapping populations served and resettlement regions.
- Internews: Large international nonprofit supporting independent media and information access in crisis-affected communities globally. Operates at much greater scale across more geographies; comparable mission in using media skills as empowerment for displaced populations.
- Free Press Unlimited: Dutch-based nonprofit supporting independent journalism and press freedom worldwide, including refugee and migration coverage. Overlaps with ReFOCUS in using media as a tool for displaced and marginalized communities.
Direct peers
- WITNESS: Global nonprofit that trains activists and marginalized communities in video advocacy and human rights documentation. Closely comparable in combining media skills training with a mission to amplify voices from crisis-affected communities.
- Lighthouse Reports: Investigative journalism studio producing long-form documentary investigations on migration, human rights, and refugee issues. Comparable in producing award-winning refugee-focused content distributed through major outlets and festivals, though less focused on training.
- Migration Media Network: European network of journalists and media professionals covering migration stories, providing training and editorial support to refugee-background reporters. Comparable mission of placing refugee voices into mainstream media coverage.
- Refugee Journalism Project: London-based program that trains refugees and asylum seekers in journalism skills for integration into UK media. Operates a similar nonprofit model combining training, mentorship, and citizen journalism output, making it the closest functional peer to ReFOCUS.
Emerging players
- Doc Society (formerly BRITDOC): International documentary impact organization supporting filmmakers producing social-change documentaries. Comparable in connecting documentary production with audience impact strategies, though focused on filmmaker support rather than refugee training.
- Re:Set: Independent journalism and storytelling platform covering refugee, migration, and social justice issues with contributor-driven model. Comparable in using storytelling platforms to amplify refugee narratives, though operates primarily as media outlet rather than training organization.
Regional players
- Voices of Refugees (various European programs): Several smaller European nonprofits (e.g., Voices of Refugees in Berlin, Refugee Voices in Greece) offering media and storytelling programs to asylum seekers. Operate in similar geographies with overlapping missions but more limited programming scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Refocus Media Labs social profiles
Digital presenceRefocus Media Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Refocus Media Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Refocus Media Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Refocus Media Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Refocus Media Labs
What does Refocus Media Labs do?
ReFOCUS Media Labs operates a network of physical media labs in refugee camps and host communities (Lesvos, Athens, Krakow, Berlin) that provide free, semester-based training in photography, filmmaking, graphic design, audio/video production, podcasting, and journalism to refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced media professionals. The organization supplements training with original content production including the Fractured podcast, feature documentaries, and the Art Under Pressure traveling festival, building portfolios and career pathways for participants.
Is Refocus Media Labs a public or private company?
Refocus Media Labs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Refocus Media Labs founded?
Refocus Media Labs was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Refocus Media Labs based?
Refocus Media Labs is headquartered in Warszawa, Poland, in the Europe region.
How does Refocus Media Labs make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants.
Who are Refocus Media Labs's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Rescue Committee (IRC), Internews and Free Press Unlimited. Direct peers are WITNESS, Lighthouse Reports, Migration Media Network and Refugee Journalism Project. Emerging players are Doc Society (formerly BRITDOC) and Re:Set. Voices of Refugees (various European programs) is listed as a regional player.
Does Refocus Media Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Refocus Media Labs.
What industry is Refocus Media Labs in?
Refocus Media Labs's product category is Nonprofit Media Training and Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAJ, Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAGALAM, Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs). Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 7812.